Policy News & Updates

AFSP works hard to create a world in which people no longer die by suicide. While we understand that suicide is personal and complicated, we also know that thoughtful public policies can reduce the number of suicides.

To help make that happen, we work closely with hundreds of well-informed and passionate advocates, all committed to educating officials at every level of government about suicide, and persuading them to act.

To ensure that public officials and the general public have the information they need to make informed decisions about suicide, we provide the links below. These links will take you to news and information about advocacy efforts and public policies related to suicide prevention. The links also connect to the work we’re doing here at AFSP, in our Advocacy and Public Policy office, and to our powerful national network of suicide prevention advocates.

In 2014 the total number of active military service members remained virtually unchanged from 2013, remaining historically high for a fifth straight year. The Army, however, reported a decline in soldier suicides for a second straight year, going from 145 to 135.

On Monday, the House of Representatives unanimously passed sweeping veterans mental health legislation, knows as the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention Act. This is the second time in five weeks that the House has taken this action.

On Friday, December 19, President Obama signed into law the Jacob Sexton Military Suicide Prevention Act. This legislation, introduced by Senator Joe Donnelly (D-IN), is aimed at protecting the mental health, and ultimately, the lives of our men and woman who serve our country in the Armed Forces.